If fleas are making your dog miserable, then there’s only one thing you can do: find the flea’s number one enemy. And no, it’s not a flea collar. It’s not flea powder either.

Let me explain….

Evolution has given fleas quite a few advantages This is what makes them so tough to get rid of. You see, the flea is a very adaptable and resilient little pests (not unlike the cockroach–ugh).

What advantages do fleas have? There are three major ones:

First of all, small as they may be, fleas have an immune system. And they will develop immunity to any kind of pesticide you use on them. It may take a few generations before this happens, but it doesn’t take all that long for fleas to reproduce, so a few generations is nothing in “flea time”.

Second, fleas go through several stages of development, referred to as a “life cycle”. During the fleas life cycle, it progresses from egg to larva to pupa, to adult flea. Trouble is, only the adult and larval fleas are susceptible to attack. Flea eggs and cocoons can live quite comfortably through a “bug bomb”, or in the presence of flea collars and powders.
Third, fleas don’t live just on your dog. It would be great if they did, because we’d only have to deal with our pet and we’d be done. We all understand that dogs pick up fleas outdoors, and that every time they step outside, dogs are tasty targets for fleas inhabiting the yard, woods, etc. So, we know there’s danger lurking outside. But you might figure that once a flea hops on board, it’ll live out its life cycle on your pet. To some extent, that’s true.
Initially, fleas lay their eggs on their host. But, most of the eggs don’t stay there. They fall off, landing on the floor, in the carpet, and back in the yard! And we’re not talking about just a few eggs. A single flea can lay 10 to 50 eggs a day, and can live as long as 100 days. That’s as many as 2000 eggs in the lifetime of a single flea. Imagine the possibilities…

Here’s another disturbing (and pretty disgusting) fact about fleas: when they bite, they inject a tiny amount of saliva into your dog. It acts as a blood thinner, making the blood easier to extract, but this also can be a means of spreading diseases and tapeworms. And it certainly isn’t good for allergy-prone dogs, who can develop rashes and hot spots.

==========The Trouble with Traditional Methods==========

Convention has it that dogs should wear flea collars. If that doesn’t work, sprinkle her with flea powder. And, of course, fumigate the house and yard. We’ve already discussed one problem with that approach, which is that fleas become immune to all pesticides sooner or later, so you must continually change products. But the other problem is more serious. It’s the fact that all pesticides are poisons. They weaken your dog’s immune system, making him an even tastier target for fleas. And they can make him sick in other ways too.

Poison is poison, no matter how you package it. (Yes the “spot-on” products are full of toxins too) And in your fight to eradicate fleas, you’ll end up spreading poisons all over your yard, around your home, and –through his skin–into your dog’s vital organs. Sure, no more fleas, but at what cost to everyone’s health?

========So, what’s a dog lover to do?===========

Fortunately, there’s an answer. What most of us aren’t told is that there are natural substances that fleas can’t tolerate, and that are actually lethal to fleas. One of these is call “diatomaceous earth”, or “DE”.

DE is composed of finely milled fossilized shells of minuscule organisms called diatoms. The microscopically fine, sharp edges dry out the insects’ outer shell on contact and fleas will dehydrate and die within hours.

The insects also die when they eat the dust. And it works on lots of other pests besides fleas! What’s great about DE is that your dog (or cat) can eat it and it won’t hurt her at all. And since it works by dehydration, fleas can’t become immune to it

DE can be purchased as a powder and sprinkled on your pet and around your home. Don’t leave out that most important step! Sprinkle the floors, furniture and carpeting. Sprinkle your dog’s bedding and any place he likes to “hang out”, since that’s where the most fleas will accumulate. Be sure to get underneath the furniture, because fleas like to hide out in dark places.

While vacuuming and washing the floors often is helpful, unless you can do it daily, it won’t be enough. You should also know that fleas that get sucked into the vacuum bag can live and reproduce there, so be sure to vacuum up some DE powder too, to kill off fleas in the bag.

===========What about my dog’s irritated skin?===========

All that scratching and those powders can leave a dog’s skin pretty irritated. Well, Mother Nature has something for that too…

Neem seed oil is a very bitter oil with a garlic/sulfur smell and contains vitamin E and other essential amino acids. It’s completely natural, and has been used as a botanical pesticide for years. When used on fleas and other pests, it impairs their development. Added bonuses are an antibacterial property, and a soothing effect on the skin.( Humans have been know to use Neem oil as an anti-arthritis and anti-wrinkle formula!)

Comb the oil through your dog’s coat with a flea comb to help distribute it to both coat and skin. Now, your dog is not only free of fleas, but her skin feels better too.

Essential oils are another natural and effective way of repelling fleas. Cedar, tea tree, citronella, eucalyptus and pennyroyal, (the last two are toxic to cats) are all repulsive to fleas and can be obtained at most stores that sell herbal remedies. There are also essential oil blends containing Neem oil. Just dab a drop of the essential oil on your dog’s collar, and mist it — diluted with water– onto her coat. Or, buy a pre-formulated spray and mist her to drive fleas away.

If your pet is already suffering from flea bites and itchy skin, herbal sprays will help soothe irritated skin. They contain aloe, which we all know is great for burns and hot spots!

b>Bathing your dog is also an effective, safe and natural way to get rid of fleas, using a neem or oatmeal based shampoo if her skin is irritated. “Bathe” her bedding too, by washing it weekly in hot soapy water. A flea comb will help you find their hiding spots.

==========What about the yard?==========

You can sprinkle DE powder here too, or apply it with a sprayer. Another option is to use “beneficial ematodes”. Nematodes are microscopic soil worms that attack white grubs, fleas and crickets. They can be purchased from nurseries and similar outlets, mixed with water and sprayed on the breeding areas.

In order for the nematodes to survive, the soil must remain relatively moist and watered at least twice weekly. Beneficial nematodes do not harm plants, animals, humans or birds. Concentrate your spraying within 50 feet of where your dog “hangs out”, since that’s where the most fleas are found.

=========Ready to go high tech?==========

So far we’ve been taking the all-natural approach. But these days, there’s a gadget for everything, and killing fleas is no exception. An “Electronic Flea Zapper Comb” which relies on a safe, low electric charge that is harmless to you and your pet, is reportedly “instantly deadly to fleas.

Does it work? I can’t honestly tell you, but I love the idea! One of these days I’ll get around to trying one!

As for the rest, these are time-honored methods for combating fleas and I can vouch for their effectiveness. Don’t forget that any method you choose will work best if you start using it about a month before flea season begins. And use it continuously once you’ve spotted fleas on your pet. That way, you’ll be sure you catch all fleas that survived as eggs and pupae, by being ready for them as they enter the vulnerable stages of their life cycle — larval and adult fleas.

==========Yippee!! No more fleas!!===========

I know all of this may seem like a lot of work, but in the end, it’s well worth it. Your dog will have no fleas, and will suffer no harmful side effects from collars and traditional powders. What’s more worthwhile than having a happy, healthy dog who’s thrilled to be alive?

© 2004, Carolyn Schweitzer. Lifelong dog-lover, power-shopper, and former family dentist Carolyn Schweitzer is owner and editor of Great-Dog-Gift.com where she offers a wide range of choices for dog gift shoppers, plus shopping and gift-giving tips. (Also advice on dog care and feeding.)

Visit the site to view the full illustrated article and learn where to find natural flea control products

You can reach Carolyn by email at netbrainer@verizon.net.

I was the latter until someone bought my little dog a little yellow rain jacket. I dressed my little dog up in his little $9.99 yellow pvc rain jacket and took him out for a walk. Well, I was so proud. Everyone stopped to say how cute he looked. I evolved into the woman who dresses her dog. Although my little dog looked cute and it was fun, there were some days that I thought, you know, it’s a good thing he has some protection because it does get pretty wet and miserable outside. I was glad I put his little rain jacket on to take him for a walk because when we got home his long fur wasn’t soaked to the core. No smelly dog fur and he didn’t really mind the coat. I think he enjoyed the compliments his attire brought.

I think many of you have heard of global warming? Well, not only does it get warmer, but we are now experiencing weather we’ve never seen before; extreme rain and cold in the winter months. So this means dogs need to be prepared too.

You can buy just about any style of dog coat for either your big or small dog. You can purchase a wrap around fleece and gortex dog coat or a zip up coat for dogs that don’t like anything pulled over their heads. I’ve even seen dog coats that look like they’re made out of scuba diving fabric — great for keeping dry!

The sky’s the limit for what you can find and what you can spend in anticipation of keeping your dog warm and dry in the coming winter months. Some people don’t mind dropping hundreds of dollars on dog clothes, but many people are more cost conscious. You can surf online and comparison shop. Many online stores sell dog attire in a wide range of prices to suit your budget.

But if you’re one of the many millions of talented home sewers around the world, you can make your own. All of the big pattern companies have patterns for dog apparel. With patterns, you can choose your own fabric and color and make your own inexpensive warm dog attire. This is a fantastic option for owners of dogs that are either longer, wider or smaller than the average dog. You can customize and get exactly what you want for your dog.

If you like the idea of customizing your dog a winter vest or coat but don’t sew, you can easily find someone who does. All fabric shops and dry cleaners keep cards of talented and inexpensive sewing professionals who will be happy to make your little dog a warm coat. The cost of contracting your little dog’s winter coat out is likely to be less expensive than purchasing a quality coat from a dog boutique.

So, find yourself a great dog clothes pattern online and get busy putting together a warm custom coat your little dog will thank you for when the cold wind and rain comes pouring down.

Teddy’s Mum is the proprietor of http://www.TeddysTogs.com A site offering original downloadable dog clothes sewing patterns.

The coat grows in 3 phases at different times which, in turn, causes a dog never to go bald. Your dog’s coat needs to be brushed once or twice a week.

For a healthy dog coat, add one teaspoon of soybean, corn or cottonseed oil to your dog’s food every day. This can also reduce shedding.

Long-haired dogs or dogs with a thick fur may need more brushing than dogs with short hair because their hair tends to mat. Matting can cause your dog to have skin irritations or possibly retain odor in the coat. Matting can easily be stripped away with a stripping knife. If your dog has a thick, heavy dog coat, the stripping knife may not do the trick, in which case you can use a pair of scissors to snip the mat off. Make sure you use scissors with a blunt tip to avoid puncturing the skin. You can also try to work the matting out between your fingers with some human hair conditioner.

For a dog coat that’s short, it is best to use a uni-groom, which is a hand-held device made of rubber with very short bristles and lies flat on the palm of your hand. You can find this device at PETSMART. You slip your finger through a loop and pass your hand over the fur as if you were petting him/her. This should be done outdoors because there is an incredible amount of hair that comes off the dog coat and you don’t want it all over your house.

Shedding is a problem most people don’t care to deal with. Unfortunately, many of us dog owners have no choice. Shedding comes with the changing of the seasons. Some dogs shed a lot, some shed a little and some don’t shed at all. I wish I had done my homework before buying two cocker spaniels (whom I love to death). Having tumbleweeds of dog hair circling your kitchen is not a pretty sight. My solution to this problem is keeping a short skirt on them and having them groomed every 6-8 weeks.

Brushing your dog’s coat outdoors also helps the hairy situation in the house. Never brush your dog’s coat when it’s wet, it causes matting and loss of hair. You can try putting a no-shed solution in your dog’s food. Although this works most of the time, be prepared for very soft bowel movements.

Shedding can also be hell for people with allergies. Try not to let your dog lie on top of you while your watching T.V. while he/she is going through a shedding phase. This could be torturous for you. Take your meds or shots and avoid too much physical contact with your dog until the shedding diminishes. Don’t be hard on your dog, it’s not something he/she can control.

Taking care of your dog’s coat is important for both you and your dog. It will keep him/her sporting a shiny, healthy dog coat and will reduce the chances of acquiring any fur or skin related disorders.

Nancy Settecasi, Owner of Happy K-9 Dog Care Proud owner of Cookie and Skippy, Cocker Spaniels, Dog Lover http://www.happyk-9.com

Imagine how cold your feet would get if you walked barefoot on the sidewalk in winter. A dog’s paw is not that different, and this is even truer for the small breeds, like Chihuahuas and Miniature Pinschers. A sturdy pair of dog shoes will also keep paws from touching rock salt or melting chemicals on the pavement. Salt will often cause doggie feet to crack which is very painful. A good quality coat will also serve to keep your canine dry as well as snug. Being wet and cold is the only thing worse than being cold, and dogs are much more difficult to dry off than humans. This is why keeping them dry while out on a walk is so important, and a hound jacket can easily accomplish this. Many coats also come with hoods to keep your furry baby’s head dry as well. Each dog needs at least one pair of boots to get them through a cold season. Coats should last at least two winters, but since this particular piece of clothing gets peed on a lot, it may wear out from all the washing. My advice is to shop now while things are cheap and stock up so that your furry best friend is well covered.

Grant Carroll is a proud daddy of four Chihuahuas and co-owner of http://www.littlepamperedpets.com with great dog boots for your dog’s paws. Come visit Little Pampered Pets.com to find dog coats to keep your canine warm.

Nutrition is the key to good skin health. If your shih tzu is prone to skin disease first check with a holistic practitioner or a conventional vet to see if he/she can recommend a nutritional program specifically for your particular shih tzu.

There is no single diet that can suit all the needs of all dogs, whether it be shih tzu or bulldog. Every dog is different. One dog might be deficient in one vitamin whereas another dog might be just fine. This is why the HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance’s formulator formulated a daily supplement to pick up the slack where the food leaves off. One of my recommendations would be to use HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance dog food and the daily supplement. HealthyPetNet also produces a skin and coat supplement that can be added if your shih tzu still has skin problems. HealthyPetNet also produces a daily skin and coat health bar you can add to your dog’s daily menu.

Whatever diet you provide, it needs to be hypo-allergenic for your individual dog. Adding supplements such as vitamin A, C and E and antioxidants especially the Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial and can all be found in the HealthyPetNet line of products.

Herbal remedies may be helpful. Herbal remedies can enhance the immune system, provide a rich source of antioxidants and other nutrients and relieve itchiness.

An accurate professional diagnosis is necessary to adequately treat skin problems. A professional holistic or conventional vet can provide several different types of tests to determine the cause of your shih tzu’s skin conditions. You must also realize the skin is an extremely complex organ system that requires an approach to treatment that is oftentimes multi-faceted, requiring the use of many different disciplines of knowledge. So the first step in accurately treating your shih tzu’s skin problem would be a visit to your holistic or conventional vet. If the recommendation on nutrition is something other than the HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance Nutritional System, and you continue to experience problems inspite of all you try, then it certainly would not hurt to present the idea to your vet of changing over to the HealthyPetNet System of Nutrition, or just make the changeover yourself to see if this helps your problem.

Honestly, I have fed no other food that has provided my shih tzu with better nutrition for their skin and just in general good health. I know they have more energy, their eyes are brighter and the hair is shinier with no flakey skin. I think the food gives their immune system an extra boost. I also use the HealthyPetNet shampoos.

However, in all honesty, you need to follow the advice of your own vet when you are trying to solve any kind of a health problem with your shih tzu, as I would do the same. Presently, I am experiencing no particular health or skin problems in my shih tzu, especially since making the switch over to this new dog food and shampoos.

I think the air in an environment also affects the skin and coat of dogs. I would recommend anyone having pets in their home to have a good air cleaner. I like the systems produced by EcoQuest, and have found them to be better at odor reducing. I suffer from allergies myself and have at times been without medicine, but with the air cleaners, and I feel like this is what kept me free of symptoms for so long. I eventually went back on my medicine, because there were days when I had increased symptoms, but I truly think, without the air cleaners I use, I could have not survived one day without my Allegra D. So I think it is important to have an adequate air cleaner in everyone’s home, but especially the homes you share with pets to improve the health of both you and your pets as well as your hair and skin.

Connie Limon publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts are offered on shih tzu to subscribers. Updates of available puppies. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com

• They are easily stored

• They are quick and simple to feed

• They are clean

• They provide a nutritionally complete diet

• All the hard work of providing a nutritionally complete diet is done for you

Among the several types of dry food on the market today, a dry food with excess protein has been known to make some dogs aggressive or hyperactive. Take the advice of your breeder and vet if you have concerns.

If your dog has worms, the coat will suffer. It is very important to keep your dog wormed according to your vet’s recommendations.

A fit and healthy dog will be recognized by the gleam of his coat. Exercise, walking, free-running and visits to new areas stimulate good health. Each breed of dog varies in their exercise requirement. Regular exercise is essential for keeping a dog in good health and a good coat. Check your dog’s feet regularly. In cold weather, check the pads for packed snow, ice or other debris which can cause problems.

The type of bedding and housing your dog has will have a bearing on the dog’s coat. A dog constantly lying on concrete will wear the hair off. A dog lying in the grass all the time may get bitten by insects and develop skin irritations. Scratching at the bites can destroy a beautiful coat in a short period of time.

Bedding should be washed regularly with Clorox bleach and a good laundry detergent. Floors should be kept clean. Strong disinfectant can be dangerous if it comes in contact with the coat or the dog licks the disinfectant off the coat.

A regular grooming routine can help you detect problems like runny eyes, bad breath, skin disorders and allergies. Early treatment of these problems is essential. If you see one flea, there probably are many more. Please use a good flea and tick preventative especially if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors. It may be necessary to apply flea and tick prevention year round according to the climate in which you live.

In conclusion the healthiest dog coats are a result of a high quality nutritionally complete diet and regular grooming routines. Genetics can lay the groundwork for a good coat, but diet, exercise and grooming will maintain and/or improve the dog’s coat.

Author: Connie Limon. I raise Shih Tzu puppies from top champion bloodlines. Purchase unique dog clothes and topknot dog bows at: http://www.littleguysdogclothesshop.com

Tip 1: A shiny coat starts with good nutrition. Feed your dog a high quality dog food. Often generic dog foods use cheaper ingredients which may not always be great for your dog.

Remember to compare ingredients, and when in doubt, consult your vet. Also, limit the amount of dog treats you give to your dog.

Tip 2: Make a habit of checking your dog’s fur. Not only can burs and fleas interfere with a healthy coat, they can be a health problem for your canine. Make a habit of checking your dog’s fur weekly.

Tip 3: Consider the benefits of conditioner. Yes…conditioner for your dog! Some people think it sounds strange, but it can work wonders. Look for a dog conditioner that is tearless, so if it gets in your dog’s eyes, it won’t hurt.

Tip 4: Don’t be tempted to share. You paid a fortune for your shampoo, so it must work wonders on your dog…right? Wrong…often human shampoos are too harsh for dogs. Make sure to purchase a shampoo that is specifically designed for dogs.

Tip 5: Spoil your dog with the brush. Brushing your dog often will help keep his coat looking great. If your dog has long hair, you may need to brush twice a week. If your dog has shorter hair, you may brush less.

Bonus tip: The scoop on baths. Some dogs require baths more often than others. If your dog is one that requires fewer baths, this may interfere with a shiny coat. Check with your vet on your specific bread.

And remember, if your dog continues to have a dull luster to his coat, talk to a groomer or vet. They may have additional suggestions based on your dog’s unique breed and circumstances.

For more information, visit http://www.dog-health-info.net